How to Art School

Steps and tips if you are in (or are interested in) art school, but you don't know how to art school.

[howtoartschool]

Guess I'm Not Deleting This

Turns out you need to remember your password in order to delete a blog. I have no idea what my roommate and I used. That was years ago. Oh well guess this is staying up forever yayyyyyy!!!

[howtoartschool]

Leaving

Hey everyone. So I just graduated art school and I honestly didn't really keep up with this blog anyway. So I'm leaving it. If anyone would like to take over feel free to message me. Otherwise I'll just let it fade out and probably delete it in a year. It's been fun, but my roommate and I just created this on a whim and we really don't have many followers so I don't feel like continuing it. Thanks to anyone who did stay with me though, and read the posts. I hope it helped. 😁😁😁 If you want to follow my professional blog it is stephnii.tumblr.com otherwise, goodbye and I wish you all luck on your art school adventures.

[howtoartschool]

Fine Art vs Applied Art

If you’ve been around art school for a bit you will probably hear the terms “fine art” and “applied art.” Fine Art is usually artwork associated with galleries and museums where the purpose is usually entirely up to the artist(s) who make the work. Applied Art involves art made for commercial use or in conjunction with a company or for consumers. However neither art is better than the other, just different. Many artists seem to forget this. If you are going to be around artists all the time you will probably hear applied artists complaining about how they just don’t get fine art and fine artists saying that applied art isn’t real art. Seriously, it’s like a never ending war. Being a photographer/videographer, I’m caught right in the middle. In order to make a living, most of us go into the commercial business. However to do the art we want to do, we have a fine art practice on our own. Personally my mind is very much leaned toward the applied art side, but the major that I am in has teachers who are all leaning toward the fine art side. So I practice and appreciate both ends of the spectrum. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t frustrating trying to talk to my fine art teachers about applied art concepts. Goes right over their heads every time, I swear.

To get a better idea of what majors are usually on which side:

To figure out what type of person you are, it’s good to be aware of the differences and see which side you like practicing more. If you like having concepts behind everything and Duchamp makes sense to you, you’re probably a fine artist. If you draw a fox walking because you like foxes and are inspired by Miyazaki, you are probably an applied artist. Of course anyone can go in between the two, but this is just what usually happens. And again, both forms of art are fantastic, so just go out there and make whatever you want!

[shubbabang]

do not compare yourself to leonardo da vinci

[howtoartschool]

BFA Defenses (before senior year)

If you are going to or are planning on going to a school that offers a BFA instead of or in addition to a BA you will hear about the BFA defense your entire school life. A BFA is a Bachelors in Fine Arts degree. A BFA defense is a project that a senior works on for the entire year. Or maybe they have been working on it for longer depending on the person. But they really kick it into gear for their last year at school. A BFA can be any type of project, but usually it has something to do with the major the person is in. If you are going to a school where BFA is held in high regard you will end up doing one. The school I am at doesn’t have a BA as an option so the only way to graduate is to do one.

When you are not a senior, going to BFAs can be either strongly recommended or even required for you to go by your school. My freshman year I was required to go to at least three, my sophomore year all of the ones in my major, then my junior year all of the ones in my major again. However, even if I wasn’t required to go to them, I would go anyway. I find myself going to a lot more than is required, this year because some of my friends are seniors and because I really do want to see them. This is a chance to see what your fellow students are capable of and a free chance to see some really good art (or not so good art. You can generally predict which BFAs are going to be a trainwreck). Then you can also prepare for your own BFA while watching others.

What goes on at a BFA?

The senior puts up their work.

A time is scheduled for their defense

A good amount of people come for one hour to hear them talk about their work.

The senior then presents their work and thesis to everyone who has attended. This takes about 10-20 minutes depending on the student.

Questions are opened up to their panel, which are their teachers. Their panel goes at it; asking them all about their work, about their thesis, why they thought this, why they did that. Every BFA is structured a bit different with time due to the individual and the teachers involved. We all know some teachers just like to hear themselves talk. 

What is supposed to happen is the last 10 minutes or so is opened up to the rest of the attendees to ask questions. Your teachers may tell you beforehand that they expect you to ask questions at this part. Sometimes this happens and you can ask questions (it pretty much works like any other critique which you are a master at by now). Generally only the juniors are able to get anything in if at all so you don’t really have to worry about this until junior year. The photography department at my school is notorious for having the panel go way over time and only giving the audience like 2 minutes to ask questions. 

My recommendation: go to at least 5 BFA defenses every year. Each one is very different from the other. Try to go to really different majors so that you get a well rounded idea of what a BFA defense is about. A sculpture BFA is completely different from an Illustration BFA. I can't talk about what it's like to do a BFA yet because I am still in art school so obviously I haven't done one yet. But senior year is coming so I am more than willing to share my experience on this page in the coming months! Ahhhhhhhhh imnotreadyimgonnadieimgonnadie

[howtoartschool]

Step 14: CARRY A SKETCHBOOK

Everywhere you go. Going to the bathroom? Bring your sketchbook. The movies? Bring your sketchbook. Dinner with the family? Bring your sketchbook. Taking your dog for a walk? Bring your sketchbook. Saving the world from killer robots? Bring your sketchbook. Critique? BRING YOUR SKETCHBOOK. CLASS? BRING YOUR SKETCHBOOK!!!!!!! Even if it’s just a small one. It can even be the size of your phone (although those seem to be getting bigger for some reason). Just have something to write things down in. And then take it out to write things down. And obviously carry a writing implement everywhere you go as well. I know you carry a phone or tablet on you everywhere, but it just looks a lot better to carry a sketchbook. You could be doing any number of things on your phone, but you’re either taking notes or drawing in a sketchbook. And phones are not all the way there yet with their drawing efficiency. Just bring a sketchbook. It will save your life. Seriously. They know CPR. Here’s a website to get you started that is probably completely out of your price range and yet every art student carries one because they’re pretty: http://shop.moleskine.com/

[howtoartschool]

Step 13: Talking About Your Work

RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH

Without a doubt, being exposed to as much as possible on the subject you are presenting is THE BEST way to be prepared to present your work. It is a lot less nerve wracking to already know the questions that will most likely be asked so you can respond with answers that you have already prepared.

ALWAYS talk to your professors about your work at least 2 weeks before you present it for a major crit. Your professors have been exposed to a lot more information than you have (comes with age) and will be able to point you in the direction of some artists that they think do similar work to you. (SIDE NOTE: CARRY A NOTEBOOK AND PEN LITERALLY EVERYWHERE AND WHEN A PROFESSOR GIVES YOU A NAME, ASK THEM HOW TO SPELL IT.)

Have a thesis. It's a term that has a taboo because of annoying English papers, but you need one for your artwork as well. If you have a thesis to go back to every time and a question gets asked that you were not prepared for, you can go back to your original thesis to search for the answer quickly.

Avoid habit words. We all have them. A good way to realize what words are your habit words is to give a mock presentation to a friend and have them write your habit words down. (Much less intimidating than having a senior you don't know write them down during your crit and hand them to you afterwards.)

If you think you do not do well talking in front of people you are probably correct. People who talk well are the people who are confident in themselves and confident in their work. Being confident in your work is a good start to at least mastering talking during a crit. This is your work. You are the master commander. You spent a lot of time on it and this subject is very important to you. Own it.

NEVER SAY "I DON'T KNOW" say "I don't know YET" or "I am still thinking about that" or "I will continue to explore that in the future." And if you don't think a comment relates to your project, explain that you understood how someone could reach that conclusion with your work, but you intend on pushing the idea in a different direction.

NEVER BE INDIFFERENT. Always take a side. You DO care. That is why you are making this work. Do not go up and be nonchalant. It makes your audience not care about the subject either. Be passionate about your work. It's your life, make people want to know more.

And finally, remind yourself to look happy (it encourages discussion, unless the subject matter doesn't call for it), speak clearly, and stand up straight. And if you feel like you're tripping over your words, take a deep breath and start again. Don't get too worried about presenting in school. We all know you're still learning and no one is going to judge you for not being good at public speaking.

I'm sure I'm missing 1000 things I want to say about this but I have a paper that's due tomorrow that I'm procrastinating right now.

Don't follow my example, get your work done early, kids. Why do I have an advice page?

[howtoartschool]

Step 12: Knowing the Software

If you don't know a little bit about any programs that artists generally use, you may want to panic right about now. But don't worry, hardly anyone knows the programs starting out. Foundation year (freshman year) is usually when you will take a class or two that help you to learn the programs. However, you WILL need to do a lot of learning on your own. ESPECIALLY if your major requires you to use software like the Adobe suite regularly. So if you are in something like Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Jewelry, Glass, etc. you should be okay with just what they teach you foundation year. HOWEVER... the rest of us NEED TO LEARN THE PROGRAMS. I don't know what the case is at all art schools, but the general census I've gotten from the ones I've looked into including my own: 90% of the time, your professor will not give you a tutorial on a software. And if they do, it will be THE MOST BASIC THING. Professors expect that you will look up tutorials online, ask fellow students, or find some way to figure it out yourself. That being said, if you ask them to help you and schedule a time to meet, they will probably say yes. But do not expect to do this EVERY TIME you need help. The Adobe suite is the most commonly used throughout schools because schools can get a good deal on it, and professionals use it a lot. I recommend starting with Photoshop and Illustrator because those are the two most commonly used. Here are the Adobe Programs each major uses most: Photography: Photoshop, Lightroom, Bridge, DNG Converter, Illustrator (Basic stuff), InDesign (Basic Stuff) Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design: Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, After Effects (Basic Stuff) Illustration: Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, After Effects, Flash Animation and Game Design: Flash, After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator Video: Premiere, Audition, After Effects, Photoshop, Lightroom, Bridge, Illustrator, Flash ADOBE IS NOT THE ONLY SOFTWARE YOU WILL USE It is simply the most common and easiest. It's also the easiest to find free tutorials on Youtube for the Adobe Suite. I don't know exactly what each major uses, but for Video we use Sony Vegas Pro, Avid Media Composer, ProTools, and Ableton to name a few. I know Game Design and Animation pretty much don't use the Adobe programs when animating except for Flash. Soooooo..... How do you get proficient with these programs? LEARN SHORTCUTS -These make your life easier. GOOGLE THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW -Google knows so you don't have to. ASK FELLOW STUDENTS -Everyone asks me and I enjoy helping my friends not die during class. WATCH TUTORIALS -They will be your best friends. PRACTICE - Practice makes perfect... or at least less horrible. It IS possible to learn this stuff without your professor's help. I taught myself 95% of the software I know. And knowing this stuff helps your art to be better and have less restrictions. SO PRACTICE SO YOU CAN MAKE STUFF. GOOD STUFF.

[howtoartschool]

How to Get the Most Out of Art School

SUBSCRIBE for more fun videos: http://bit.ly/karen-kavett WATCH more graphic design videos: http://bit.ly/graphic-design-karen Check out the entire art schoo...

Now that school is starting up again, here's a good video by Karen Kavett (an art school graphic design major graduate), on things to do as an art school student. We may address some of these things in later posts, but just to get you thinking about it, I strongly suggest checking out this video. And good luck with the start of the year, everyone!

[howtoartschool]

[howtoartschool]

Step 11: The Art of Inspiration

The million dollar question: How do you get inspired? Being in art school you need to come up with numerous ideas everyday. Some of them will be ideas that you want to lock up in a closet and ship to the closest black hole. And other ideas you will save somewhere and realize how dumb they are when you come across them again months later. And other ideas you will grab a hold of, feed, and nurture until they grow into a beautiful butterfly.

So how do you get inspired? Everyone gets inspired different ways, obviously. However, if you do have Artist's Block there are a few steps you can take so you don't go completely insane when you don't have an idea for a project that's due the next day. Or that morning. However long you chose to procrastinate. 1. GO OUTSIDE. I know it's hard to believe; especially for us who stay on Tumblr all day. But going outside and breathing in the fresh air (or in my case, car fumes and the odd-smelling Mexican restaurant next door) helps gather your thoughts and stimulate your brain. Just simply going for a walk, looking around, and reflecting on things can help get those inspiration juices flowing.

2. Do research. Pick anything that interests you and do some research on it. I know research sounds pretty boring when you'd rather be drawing, but if it's a topic you like, you can get interested in it pretty quickly. Then something you read may click with you and your creativity can take hold of whatever you're thinking.

3. Do something monotonous. Who would have thought, right? But for some reason when I'm scanning color swatches at work (takes forever and it's the same motion over and over again) I come up with the basis for some really good ideas. It just gives me time to think about things without any distractions.

4. Talk to people. When you can't think of something start talking to people and brainstorming about ideas. Your classmates may be in the same boat as you so mutual brainstorming can benefit all of you. Talk to your teachers too. They are an excellent resource when it comes to inspiration and artists that you may want to look into. Which leads me to the next option...

5. Find artists that you like and really look at their work. What do you like about it? What techniques are they using that you think are interesting? Where do they get their inspiration from? Visit artist talks. (If you want any recommendations on artists I'd be happy to give you some of my favorites).

6. Write down anything that comes to your mind. Even if you just start making a list of random words, or what you did that day, or a story about a snail going on a safari adventure. Just write down everything that you can think of. Sometimes you can come up with ideas for your projects through looking at one word, phrase, or sentence. That's really all I have at the moment but there are plenty of other ways to get inspired. If any of you have suggestions on how to get inspired, feel free to add to this. Maybe we can lessen the stress of Artist's Block a little for all of us and make more beautiful butterflies.

[howtoartschool]

Step 10: Grades or Portfolio?

One of the main things that an art student has to struggle with is judging the importance of grades verses the importance of a portfolio. Of course you want your pieces to look good and you want to have the best portfolio possible, but you also don’t want to get put on academic probation or lose your scholarship due to not finishing projects on time.

How do you keep your grades up while still creating a stellar portfolio?

You will notice that a lot of the time you will not have enough time to finish your projects the way you want to. Most teachers expect a project done every week or every three weeks. When you’ve got three classes that expect that plus your non-art classes, work tends to add up. I recommend just accepting that you are not going to finish your projects the way you want to 90% of the time. Now that you have accepted that, let’s move on.

YOU CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE YOUR PROJECTS LATER.

What you turn in to your teacher is not set in stone for your portfolio. You can change it that night if you want to make it better for your portfolio. You can even take the suggestions from your critique and use those to help finish the project. However, it still needs to be well enough to receive a decent grade from your teacher.

My advice is to make the project seem finished. Sure it isn’t to the best of your ability, but at least it looks done. Just fill in that part of the drawing you have been neglecting. Render what you have of your animation. Print out your project information in color. Just find a way to make it look like you have spent a lot of time on it.

SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING

This was a motto that one of our freshman year teachers drilled into our heads. And it is definitely true. It is way better to critique a work-in-progress than an empty space on a wall. If you bring in nothing you look lazy compared to the student next to you who spent five hours on their project and it isn’t even close to finished.

So which is more important? Your grades or your portfolio? My answer: grades first so you can stay in school and keep that scholarship then portfolio later when you have the time. This doesn’t mean you should slack off and always expect to finish your portfolio later. Give it 110% effort the first time so you don’t have to do as much fixing later. Just don’t overly stress yourself about it.

[howtoartschool]

Step 9: Finding Your Major

It's that time of the year. The time where you should be deciding what major you want to go into. This process can be very easy for some people and very difficult for others. Some people may have known what they wanted to go in to since the beginning and are picking that major. Others had a solid idea in the beginning and are changing to something completely different. And still others will have no idea whatsoever and are really starting to panic right about now. It's okay. I know all of these types of people and they all got into a major. So how do I choose a major? I'm not going to talk about my experience because the school got rid of my intended major right before major selection and hopefully that will not happen to you. But I knew what I wanted to do and I still know what I want to do. You need to choose something you will be passionate about enough to spend three more years (plus possibly grad school) intensely learning. You will live and breath whatever you have chosen so make sure you choose wisely. This is not really to scare you, but more to make you aware of what is coming next. Find 5 majors you are interested in and do more research on them to narrow it down to 3. I cannot stress research enough! You need to know exactly what you are getting into. One of my friends thought she knew the major, then went in the first day of class and decided it's nothing like how she imagined and switched majors right away. Go to the academic advisers in your school and ask them how to contact the head of the major you want to go in to. Then ask the head of the major if you can meet with them or if you can sit in on a critique. They are just teachers so most of the time they will be more than happy that you are contacting them and will allow you to sit in on a crit. ASK STUDENTS ALREADY IN THE MAJOR This is probably the BEST way to find out about the major. The upperclassmen are going through the major right when you are asking them. They will be able to answer your questions much better than anyone else. Don't be afraid to ask them! Most upperclassmen I know are very friendly when it comes to the underclassmen and are more than willing to tell you about their experience. Get their contact information from the head of the major and email them a few simple questions or even a time to meet and talk about the major.

And if you still don't know after all of this, DON'T PANIC. At my school we were able to select three majors to apply to. After you apply to all of them you can choose one (or two if you want to double major). Even if you still don't know by the time you need to choose, choose the one you like the most and then take electives in the other majors. Most majors will have time for electives so ask your academic adviser for a list of classes you will need to take for the major and if there are any elective spaces open.

I know this step involves a lot of talking to people, but you will regret it if you do not do this. You're going to art school to do what you want to do. Make sure you like it.

[howtoartschool]

Step eight: Decide what you believe in

…and decide what you're willing to do.

This one has a story behind it. And it starts with naive little me. I have a very twitchy conscience, and there are a lot of things that I don't do. Drinking is one of those things. I assumed that a lot of people would drink at art school, but I'd find the crowd that didn't--just like not everyone would be the stereotypical art student.

To my immense surprise, around 97% of my classmates drink. I don't have a problem with this; it was just unexpected. Especially considering that all the "goody two shoes" people are included!

And from waaay back in health class, peer pressure started to rear its head. It's a lot harder to say no to drinking if everyone is doing it. But I thought about it before I got to school, and I can wait until I'm twenty-one.

See what I did there?

At art school, you'll have a lot of people around you doing a lot of different things. If you're sheltered, then some of it might even be shocking. Then again, maybe you want to try everything. That's okay. The point is that you have to decide ahead of time what you're willing to do. If you're still hemming and hawing about your values when someone hands you a beer, you might make a decision you regret--in either direction.

If you want to dig deep and experience everything that art school has to offer, if you want to make trouble while you're young and build up stories, that's okay. If you want to play it safe and make sure you don't have anything to regret, that's okay too.

Sure, it sounds weird to sit back and think about whether you want to drink, or have sex, or do drugs. But when the moment comes, you don't always have your head on your shoulders. It's better to make your decision now, while you have plenty of time to think it out.

This also has plenty of application to the rest of your life. Get to know yourself. Spend a while in a bubble bath thinking about what you want your life to be. Go on a long walk in the wilderness and decide how you would describe yourself. It's easier to be stable when you know who you are and what you believe it. (Just don't get eaten by a bear in the woods.)

[howtoartschool]

Step seven: Critique 101

Critiques, crits, reviews—whatever you call them, they will always happen in art school. They can be really terrifying at first (or ever), so here’s some basics.

What are critiques? Basically, they are verbal reviews of your work. Normally, you and your class will pin up or hang your work, and you’ll spend a bit of time discussing and commenting on each person’s work. It varies a lot by school, department, teacher and class—sometimes critiques are weekly, sometimes they’re only at midterms and finals. Sometimes you may have a mid-way critique on work that’s not done yet. You’ll get into a rhythm quickly, don’t worry.

Who talks during a critique? This varies, from 100% students to 100% professors, but you’ll likely be in the middle. Take your cue from the professor; if (s)he asks for input, go ahead. If (s)he’s talking most of the time, hold back a little more. Again, you’ll get used to it! Certain classes and certain teachers have different habits, and you’ll learn them.

What do I say during a critique? It depends! Do you think the work is well done, and why? Do you like it? Why? Be honest, but never be mean. Tell the artist why you think it’s well done and what they should work on. Try to include at least one positive; no one likes getting beaten down with criticism. Say things politely. Give reasons; never just say “I like it”. This also varies by class—sometimes students are invited to critique the idea behind a piece, and sometimes they’re not. If a fellow student says the artwork is representing an opinion you disagree with, it’s safer to stick to the artwork itself and how it represents the idea—now why the idea is right or wrong.

Can I be mean during a critique? No, no, no, no, NO. Never. It is never acceptable to bring someone down during a critique. You’re trying to help them with constructive criticism. If you have an enemy you hate, you may NEVER base your critique on your opinion of the person. It’s extremely unprofessional and people will quickly catch on, and believe me, word travels fast in art school. This is extremely important. You are trying to help the person; it is NEVER okay to be mean.

These are just a few of the very basics of critiques. I’m already planning a few more posts about etiquette and how to take a bad critique. If you have any questions, please ask!

[howtoartschool]

Step six: Get your health ducks in a row.

Note: This step is best done before you start school. However, if that’s not possible, do it ASAP over weekends and free time. You’ll still be fine.

Almost everyone has some health issue or another. And for most people, college is a long period of time away from home, your normal doctor, and your normal situation. This requires different handing and more planning than usual.

See your physician. Make sure (s)he knows that you’re going away to school. Get a physical. Get your booster shots or any immunizations you’re behind on. (Some schools require this.) If you have health concerns, write your questions down before you go. Get an email you can reach him/her at if you have questions.

Plan ahead. Find any doctors or resources you’ll need. Do you need frequent appointments (like with a psychologist or psychiatrist)? Find one before you leave. See if your school has a health center and read up on what it does. (Can you go if your temperature is 104, or do they schedule weeks in advance?) If not, or just in case, look into what your insurance covers in the area. If you need appointments with specialists (dermatologists, gastroenterologists, etc), make sure there’s a reputable office in the area.

Get your ducks pills in a row. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if it’s possible to get a three months’ supply (90) instead of one (30). Make sure you have enough refills on your prescription—or that your doctor will authorize refills without a visit. If you’re on a highly time-dependent medication, such as birth control or some antidepressants, make a plan to keep consistent (especially if you’re changing time zones). If you’re on a medication that has potential for abuse, such as amphetamines, make a plan for keeping it safe—a locked drawer, for instance, ensures no one snorts the drugs you need every day.

Document, document, document. If you’re coming to school with any disorder that may disable you in any way, give the school this information. I can’t stress this enough. Many schools and teachers will bend over backwards to help—but they can’t help if they don’t know. Sure, don’t exaggerate your occasional headaches, but tell them about your ADHD. Or your depression, narcolepsy, Asperger’s, etc. Oftentimes schools have policies and programs to help. Many students at my school qualify for assisted note-taking in liberal arts classes, for instance. Or you may be cut some slack on being late if the administration knows you were at the psychiatrist. You don’t need to spread news of your health issues to the world, though. The appropriate section of college administration will keep it quiet, and probably only notify teachers if necessary. But it is 300% easier on everyone if you just explain at the beginning that you have a health issue.

ASK. ASK ABOUT ANYTHING. This goes for everything, but especially health. Don’t know how to find a good physician? Ask your parents. Don’t know what the student health center does? Ask your admissions counselor (they may not know, but they know the person who does). Don’t know how to gradually change the time of a medication? Ask your doctor. You are not in this alone. Ask! If you don't know who to ask, ask someone who to ask! Nothing good can come of not knowing and not asking.

This step isn't fun or specific to art school, but it is totally necessary. I promise you will thank yourself later if you get this all done well!

[howtoartschool]

Step five: Relaxation.

Relaxing on break is very important. Not only do you need to catch up on sleep, you have to get out of the habits of the semester. You can't spend four or more years continuously stressed. You will explode.

During the semester, start to take note of your body. When are you tiredest? When are you most awake? When is the best time of day for you to study? Does caffeine make you jittery? Does milk put you to sleep? Then, apply that during break!

Get sleep. But not too much sleep. Most people function better on 8-9 hours of sleep than on 12-13 hours. It feels nice for a few days, but then you start feeling groggy and overtired. (Not that, uh, I'd know or anything...)

Take time over break to make yourself happy. Do something you enjoy that you don't have time for during the semester. Draw something for yourself, or read a novel. Or try something new. Learn to knit. Try to learn Russian and fail spectacularly. You're not being graded anymore! It's okay! Go outside your comfort zone. Volunteer with children. Feed the homeless. Go to a religious service. The more you do on break, the more experiences you can draw from next semester for your art.

Reassess your habits and ask yourself if you still need them. Sure, in art school, you need two coffees in the morning. But do you need that much at home? Probably not. That's an easy way to save money, lower your physical stress and sleep more easily.

And lastly...don't let yourself get bored! There might not seem like there's much around to do, but there is. I promise. Even if you live in Amish country. If you need to, keep a list during the semester of things you want to do that you can't yet. Or google suggestions. Or burn a building down. Wait what? If you let yourself get bored during break, you'll be kicking yourself the moment the semester starts again.

So now, go enjoy the rest of your winter break, and work on your relaxation skills!

[I apologize for both of us at the lack of posts. Things get busy. We'll try to stay more active in the future.]